How to protect tanks during tent fumigation?

[LeahK]

If I were to hire a company to completely seal off my home and fill it with gas to kill every living thing inside, my aquariums would be outside!

Regards,
TA

Unfortunately, my property manager did the hiring, and we have no choice. At least he refunded us for a night's rent.

One thing I learned online, is that the pesticide chloradane [FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][FONT=arial,helvetica,sans-serif][/FONT][/FONT]is targeted at killing termites and is not guaranteed to kill any other pests. Of course, I'm sure it's not good for them....

I may indeed end up putting my fish in a bucket and trying to move them out.

 

[thrak76]

Hmmm... so maybe i should only remove one at a time, and perhaps throw an airstone in there while O2 stabilizes.

 

[TechAquaria]

Unfortunately, my property manager did the hiring, and we have no choice. At least he refunded us for a night's rent.

One thing I learned online, is that the pesticide chloradane is targeted at killing termites and is not guaranteed to kill any other pests. Of course, I'm sure it's not good for them....

I may indeed end up putting my fish in a bucket and trying to move them out.

Are you sure it is "chloradane"; it my understanding that poison has been banned in the USA; you can no longer purchase it in California; I do know that. Take a look at this page:
http://www.soulawareness.com/aboutus.html

Something is wrong here ...

Regards,
TA

 

[LeahK]

Are you sure it is "chloradane"; it my understanding that poison has been banned in the USA; you can no longer purchase it in California; I do know that. Take a look at this page:
http://www.soulawareness.com/aboutus.html

Something is wrong here ...

Regards,
TA

Hmmm, that is strange. I may be wrong. At the website of the company my landlord hired (http://www.chemipuretermite.com/door/) on the "About Us" link, they mention chloradane as the pesticide they use. But, re-reading it, I see that it's mentioned as what they used when the company was first starting out. I can't find any info on what they use now.

I emailed them as soon as I got the notice from my landlord, trying to see if they had instructions for people with aquariums. If they don't get back to me by tomorrow, I'm just going to call them.

 

[coach_z]

if you cannot move your fish. wrap your tanks in plastic, tape and bungee them until you run out of tape and bungee.

this is also one of those few instances where 'double bagging' wont lead to disaster....lol
just make sure the second bag extends lower, and is taped lower than the first bag.

 

[LeahK]

if you cannot move your fish. wrap your tanks in plastic, tape and bungee them until you run out of tape and bungee.

Do you think that they can they go for 24 hours wrapped up like that? I'm worried about the fish running out of oxygen.

 

[JimL]

Do you think that they can they go for 24 hours wrapped up like that? I'm worried about the fish running out of oxygen.

With the filters running O2 levels should remain fine. Be sure to do a major water change when you get back. This will add O2 and remove any bug spray that may have some how found a way into your tank.

 

[angyles]

I think if you make a large bubble of airspace above the tank, that includes the filters, and is airtight from the rest of the room, you should be able to keep the tank oxygenated enough for 24 hours. IF it's planted, all the better. I would just pump the 'bubble top' up with pure oxygen from a mini air compressor or bike pump or something and seal it all up really good.

As far as moving your plants around and your oxygen level dropping to a lethal point, that's pretty extreme. Most of us with planted tanks often do various levels of rescaping and trimming, and never have problems. All of my tanks are planted, to varying degrees, and I've never used an air pump to supplement oxygen on any of them. I would say this experience is definently the exception, not the rule.

 

[rainbowcharmer]

When we fumigated our apartment ( 3 weekends in a row) up in RI about 5 years ago, we did what you were talking about - we used plastic (trash bags actually), and made an air tight seal. We did not leave anything running though for fear of pulling fumigated air into the tank. We left about 3 inches or so of air in the tanks (took out a few gallons of water prior to the attacks).

All but 1 fish survived the 3 week attack on the roaches in that building, and we were able to move WITHOUT any hitchhikers. Thank goodness.

Our tanks were sealed from about 7pm on Friday night to about noon on Sat. Not quite as long as you're talking about, but it is do-able. As long as you've got a few inches of air in your tank, you will probably be OK. You might consider dropping the water level by more than a few inches since you're thinking you'll be gone longer than what we were.

If you think about it - when fish are shipped, they are shipped in minimal water with lots of air, and they do OK.

Make sure you air out the apartment when you get back prior to taking off the plastic, and then do a water change or two just to be safe.

Good luck.

 

[angyles]

that's a really good idea, rainbow. just drop the water level down and there ya go! if you have a power head to create surface movement, that would probably be helpful. wouldn't draw in air from outside like an air pump, but it would maximise o2.